Weston School Calendar May Be 'Sandy Proof'

WESTON, Conn. – When Weston public school students started their school year in late August with a five-day school week, they may have complained that summer vacation ended too early. But the early start may enable them to avoid prolonging the school year after six school days were canceled due to Hurricane Sandy.

Hurlbutt Elementary and other Weston public schools may avoid a prolonged school year due to Hurricane Sandy cancellations because of the way this year's school calendar was put together.
Photo Credit: *Ken Liebeskind*

by Ken Liebeskind

11/16/2012 12:01 a.m.

“We had a built-in safety net going into the 2012-13 school year,” said school superintendent Colleen Palmer. “We came back in August with a five-day week so we won’t have to push the end of the school year out.”

She also noted that the February vacation is two days instead of five, a measure that was inserted into the school calendar to enable the school system to avoid prolonging the school year due to weather cancellations. “We built in the buffer based on the recent experience with Irene and the Halloween snow,” Palmer said.

The short February vacation is new for this year, but a full week off in April is planned, she said.

The last school day is scheduled for June 17 and Weston High School graduation may take place on that date. The definite day for graduation will be announced April 1, she said.

She said the schools made plans for this year’s calendar after researching the number of snow days in recent winters.

“For the past 10 years we needed four or fewer snow days and now we have four days left to insure we’ll be able to close schools the third week in June.”

Make-up days can be planned for the fourth week in June and will be discussed at next Monday’s board meeting, she said.

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